GA-M57SLI- S4 (rev2.0) Slow Boot

[Paul213]

Hi,

I'm having a problem since I installed an ASUS EAH5770 CuCore/2DI/1GD5 Graphics adapter - 1 GB - GDDR5 SDRAM. On start up there's a clicking sound, three clicks in a series of about 7 to 8 times. The VGA fan also rises and slows down until eventually the system boots up. The PC then runs perfectly well. I understand that it's possible to have a new BIOS which can overcome this problem? I have Flashed the board with the latest FHL BIOS but this has had no affect on the problem. The delay in boot up is considerable, about 30 seconds or so and I'm unsure if this problem could cause any damage. I'm assuming it's something to do with the nvidia chipset?

I ran two 8800 GT's SLI previously without any problems but wanted to swap to ATI because of nvidia driver problems I'd had running certain games with the 8800 GT's. The new graphics card seems a great improvement so long as I can overcome this Boot problem.

I've contacted Gigabyte Technical Service but as yet the message hasn't been read!

Can anyone shed any light on this problem, even if it is an older MB?

Paul.


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Model Name : GA-M57SLI-S4(rev. 2.0)
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M/B Rev : 2.0
BIOS Ver : FHL
Serial No. :
Purchase Dealer :
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VGA Brand : Asus      Model : ASUS EAH5770 CuCore/2DI/1GD5 Graphics adapter - 1 GB - GDDR5 SDRAM
CPU Brand : AMD      Model : Phenom X4 9850      Speed : 2500
Operation System : Vista 64-bit      SP : 2
Memory Brand : Kingston      Type : DDRII
Memory Size : 6 GB      Speed :
Power Supply : Antec 550 W

[Dark Mantis]

The first thing to do is make sure that you are using the very latest BIOS update for the motherboard and the latest drivers ect for the graphics card. To be fair Asus aren't the best for graphics but that shouldn't make a difference as to them working properly. I've not heard of this clicking sound before but could it be something to do with your old nVidea drivers or have you removed them totally?

[absic]

Hi,

following on from what Dark Mantis has said, another area to look at would be the power supply. I have come across this before and the problem was the Graphics card not getting enough power at start-up. If possible, check your PSU is functioning properly. If you haven't got the gear to test it could you try a different PSU?

if your PSU is OK then a slight increase/decrease to the PCIE Clock might help. This is set to 100 Mhz by default and a little experimentation between 95 - 105 Mhz might cure the problem.

Also a slight increase in voltage to the Northbridge can sometimes help.

ATB

[Paul213]

Thanks for the replies, appreciated Gents.

I have got the latest MB BIOS and also the latest Nvidia chipset drivers for the MB. I did remove all Nvidia VGA Drivers before installing the ATI VGA Drivers.

The power supply dealt with two 8800 GT's SLI so wouldn't think the single ATI card would be starved of power somehow? I haven't got another PSU to try at the moment though. I've heard others running the same card with a 450 W supply so that again makes me think the Antec 550 should be powerful enough.

I did try turning the PCIE Clock up to 105 (it doesn't give me the option of lowering below 100) but this made no difference.

As for a slight increase in voltage to the Northbridge, I'm not sure what is the normal voltage so I'm shying away from altering it.

The reason I mention an MB BIOS update might work is that others have had similar problems with ATI 57** series cards and had MB BIOS updates cure the problem. Others state it could be a backward compatibility with the 57** series cards. I was just hoping there might be a simple answer other than buying a new MB etc.

[absic]

Hi,

Sorry but I don't know the voltages on your Mobo, all I can suggest would be to see, when you are in BIOS, if it shows you the default voltage
when you try to change from the Normal setting. (Newer boards show you the default voltages)

You are currently running the latest BIOS version for your Mobo. The only hope if finding out if a newer version is in the pipeline will be to wait and hear from your request made to Gigabyte Technical Service (just so you know, these do take some time to be answered. It doesn't help but it is sometimes nice to know that you are not waiting in vain!)

ATB

[Paul213]

Thanks for that, still waiting on the Gigabyte Technical Service to read my message.

[Dark Mantis]

Well good luck with that and please come back and let us know the outcome.

[Paul213]

The Gigabyte Technical Service query I submitted is now at the stage of being processed.

I certainly will keep you updated and thanks for the help and support.

[m3talw4rrior]

I have this same motherboard, and am experiencing the same problem with my new Radeon HD 5770 from XFX. I almost sent this out in an RMA! I'll have to wait and see what happens here before I try that option.

[Paul213]

I dare say there could be quite a few people in the same boat as us, hopefully Gigabyte can sort us out as it's not restricted to one Graphics card maker. Mine being Asus and yours XFX. For some reason newer ATI cards seem to have a compatibility issue with some older MB's and many of us are being caught out upgrading our perfectly good systems.

Whose problem this is I'm unsure but I sincerely hope Gigabyte don't take the easy option of saying it's not our problem.

Can you give your PC spec so that those in the know can see the problem is not related to something else like Power Supply etc?

EDIT: Just noticed this post in the Graphics card section, so there are more people suffering a very similar problem with ATI 57** series cards and different MB's, in this case unresolved it seems. http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1135.0.html

[Paul213]

All now seems well with my problem being sorted out with a new BIOS (FHm) sent to me from the Gigabyte Technical Service. Not sure if others want to wait for an official release or I should attach the new BIOS here. I'll wait for the Gigabyte Technical Service reply I think, as I asked them if they could explain a little as to what problems the BIOS update actually fixed.

Very happy so far, everything seems normal after a quick test.

Thanks for your help all and thanks to Gigabyte Technical Service for sorting the problem out for me.

Just hope I'm not jumping the gun a bit. Will test it out more later.

Remember the BIOS I have is for Rev 2.0 so if you have the same MB there's a fix, if it's a different Rev then I'm sure there's hope for you too.

[absic]

Hi,

pleased to see that your problem seems to have been resolved with a BIOS update. It's nice to know and will surely help with others who are facing a similar problem.

Thanks for updating us all!

[Dark Mantis]

To be fair it is one of Gigabyte's strongpoints that they are always working on new bios releases to help fix problems that arise.

[Paul213]

I have tested the system more now and have had no problems up to this point.

I did ask Gigabyte Technical Service what problems the new BIOS addressed, their reply is below.

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback. The situation may happen with the ATI display card. It is because there is an unusual error during the BIOS POST examination period.

I noticed they haven't yet added the New BIOS to the download section for this MB, but I'm sure it will be added soon.

If anyone needs the BIOS and cannot wait for the official release then I will of course send you the BIOS I received from the Gigabyte Technical Service.

Thanks again all that tried to help and also Gigabyte Technical Service.

[asustech]

Hi Paul

Thanks for sending the new bios flash, however, upon inspection my mobo is a rev 1.0 . Its very frustrating all this slow boot up process but here is hoping that gigabyte release a flash for all rev numbers.

Thanks for your help anyway...